John Scofield Combo 75

JOHN SCOFIELD is not only an innovator of modern jazz guitar, but also a creative artist of an even rarer kind: a stylistic chameleon who has forged an unmistakable, rock-solid artistic identity. To mark his 75th birthday, Scofield is exploring new and revisited compositions with his newly formed group—formerly Combo 66—which he is presenting on tour. Gerald Clayton is the obvious choice on piano, an instrument that plays a central role in these pieces. The bond between Scofield and drummer Bill Stewart has grown ever stronger over the decades. It was Stewart who brought bassist Vicente Archer into the project nearly ten years ago. Scofield is thrilled with the band and, in addition to their musical chemistry, particularly appreciates its cross-generational makeup: musicians from the ’70s, ’50s, and ’40s!

Three-time Grammy Award winner SCOFIELD has fans across many genres and has released more than 50 albums as a bandleader. He moves with ease and enthusiasm through the soundscapes of bebop, blues, jazz-funk, organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz, electronically infused groove music, jam band style, and orchestral arrangements. In addition to numerous Grammy nominations, Scofield was named an Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France. With his own groups, he tours worldwide for about 200 days a year. He has performed with Miles Davis, Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Brad Mehldau, Eddie Harris, John Mayer, Phil Lesh, Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, and MMW on stage and in the studio.

Drummer and composer BILL STEWART, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, born on October 18, 1966, has played and recorded with numerous well-known musicians, including Scofield, Pat Metheny, Maceo Parker, Larry Goldings, Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Kevin Hays, Bill Carrothers, Chris Potter, Marc Copland, Lee Konitz, and many others. As a bandleader, he has released several CDs, including*Snide Remarks* (Blue Note), which theNew York Timesnamed one of the ten best CDs of 1995, as well as*Incandescence*(2008) on Pirouet Records with his trio featuring Larry Goldings and Kevin Hays. Bill is co-leader of the critically acclaimed trio BERNSTEIN / GOLDINGS / STEWART, which has recorded four albums.

Pianist GERALD CLAYTON was born on May 11, 1984, in the Netherlands. He grew up in California and is the son of renowned jazz bassist, arranger, and bandleader John Clayton. He attended the L.A. County High School for the Arts, then graduated from the USC Thornton School of Music before moving to New York City. In 2006, Gerald won second prize at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Piano Competition. During three intense years of touring and recording with trumpeter Roy Hargrove between 2006 and 2009, Gerald also contributed to recordings by numerous other artists, including Diana Krall, Charles Lloyd, Ambrose Akinmusire, Kendrick Scott, Melissa Morgan, Terell Stafford, and Dick Oatts, as well as, later, Michael Rodriguez, Dayna Stephens, Terri Lyne Carrington, and the Clayton Brothers Quintet, led by his father and his uncle, saxophonist Jeff Clayton. Gerald continues to perform regularly with the Clayton Brothers. Clayton, a six-time Grammy nominee, has released five albums as a bandleader.

Bassist VICENTE ARCHER was born in Woodstock, New York, and was introduced to jazz at an early age through the rich cultural scene of his historic hometown. He listened to local greats such as Dave Holland, Jimmy Cobb, and Jack DeJohnette. At sixteen, he began his musical career as a largely self-taught guitarist. After graduating from high school, Vicente was accepted into the Jazz Studies program at the New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston, Massachusetts. His teachers included guitarist Gene Bertoncini, saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, and Latin/jazz pianist Danilo Pérez. After his first year at the NEC, Vicente transferred to Northeastern University in Boston and switched from guitar to double bass. After graduating with degrees in Management Information Systems and Business Administration in June 2000, he moved to New York City. There, he soon began performing and touring with artists such as Kenny Garrett, Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Geri Allen, Stanley Jordan, Wycliffe Gordon, Stefon Harris, Janis Siegel, Lewis Nash, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, and Nicholas Payton. Vicente Archer has emerged as one of the most distinctive new voices on the bass. He is a professor at Berklee College of Music and released his debut album,*Short Stories*, in 2023.